Catalina Pacific, a Calportland Company, has announced the launch of its Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) powered concrete mixer truck fleet, which it claims will reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) and smog-causing emissions in Southern California.
The company commissioned 118 new “Near-Zero Emission” concrete mixer trucks to be in operation by the end of 2017. Fifty-two of the new trucks are currently serving the market in the greater Los Angeles area. The announcement was made at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, which was built nearly 100 years ago with the help of Catalina Pacific.
“The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is an historic setting for the official launch of our CNG fleet,” said Allen Hamblen, President/CEO of CalPortland, “Catalina Pacific provided the original concrete in the 1920s for the construction of this iconic stadium with our innovative mixer trucks. We provided the concrete for the construction of many new venues when the Olympics returned to Los Angeles in 1984. We are poised to serve the City of Los Angeles once again with this new ‘clean fuel’ technology as the Olympics return to Los Angeles in 2028.”
“Catalina Pacific’s transition to a fleet of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fueled low-NOx engine mixers contributes to the attainment of greenhouse gas and NOx reduction goals set forth by the California Legislature, the California Air Resources Board, and other regional and local agencies,” added Hamblen. “By selecting engines fueled by natural gas over diesel, Catalina Pacific continues to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the environment, community, and the safety of our employees.”
“Nearly 100 years ago when Catalina Pacific was helping build the Coliseum, we did not see that air pollution and climate change would be one of the biggest threats to our existence,” stated State Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens). “As the California Legislature commits to build more homes and fix our roads, it is great to see a company like Catalina Pacific being a partner in the drive to clean truck technology.”
Catalina Pacific is firmly on the Road to Zero by implementing the latest in clean engine technology. Kenworth’s T880S mixers containing the ISL G Near Zero Cummins Westport 9L Engine which is designed with the aim of reducing GHG by 15 percent and NOx emissions by 90 percent (compared to a 2010 diesel engine). The 8.9 liter ISL G Near Zero is also compatible with Renewable Natural Gas (RNG), which aims to reduce GHG emissions and is quieter than a diesel engine.
The Kenworth T880S with the ISL G Near Zero emissions engine offers payload capacity and maneuverability, due to its optimized set-forward axle layout, as well as reduced emissions from the engine. Compressed Natural Gas / Renewable Natural Gas has many advantages over conventional diesel fuel making it an option for Catalina Pacific’s ready mix truck fleet.
McNeilus® partnered with Kenworth to provide its 10-1/2 yard Bridgemaster® Transit mixer body and the company’s NGEN™ twin vertical compressed natural gas system – which offers customers an enhanced high capacity, low profile back-of-cab configuration – for the T880S mixers.
Catalina Pacific’s “clean fleet” vehicles will initially refuel at stations operated by RedeemTM by Clean Energy® providing renewable natural gas (RNG) fuel made entirely from organic waste. The fuel is derived from biogenic methane that is naturally generated by the decomposition of organic waste at landfills and agricultural waste sources. Catalina Pacific is building privately owned fueling stations at two plant locations. These fueling stations are being developed by OZINGA® Energy and are scheduled to begin operation in January 2018.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently presented the 2017 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award to CalPortland for its continued leadership in protecting our environment through superior energy efficiency achievements. This is the 13th consecutive recognition by U.S. EPA ENERGY STAR for CalPortland, a feat that has never been matched by any other U.S. building materials manufacturing company. CalPortland continues to identify opportunities to expand the use of alternative clean fuels as well as optimize energy efficiency through its Energy Management program.
